The Shinty Preview – Saturday 14 April 2012 | |
13 April 2012 There is plenty of league action, a Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Preliminary Round replay and the first round of the Balliemore Cup on Saturday 14 April 2012.
Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup – Preliminary Round Glenorchy v Oban Camanachd Glenorchy and Oban Camanachd meet again following their 1-1 draw at Mossfield last weekend. Many expected the Oban side to progress last week and they will be out to make the most of their replay opportunity this time. Glenorchy’s Duncan Smith picked up a knock last week but he will be given every chance to prove his fitness. Oban Camanachd’s Matt Rippon is suspended for this one after being red carded in last week’s tie. However Gareth Evans returns after serving a one match ban last week and David MacInnes is available again after serving a six match ban carried forward from last season.
Balliemore Cup – First Round Lochaber v Caberfeidh There should be a cracking tie at Spean Bridge where Lochaber meet Caberfeidh. Lochaber lost out in a penalty shoot-out to eventual winners Bute last season. Caberfeidh were 2011 Balliemore Cup runners-up and they are record five time winners of this competition. Lochaber have been in sparkling form in recent weeks and have put a combined 12 goals past title rivals Beauly and Skye Camanachd. Lochaber boss Michael Delaney hopes to have forward Stuart Callison back in his line-up after he missed last week’s game. Two key men will be international pair Shaun Nicolson of Lochaber and Caberfeidh’s Kevin Bartlett. Aberdour v Glasgow Mid Argyll Aberdour and Glasgow Mid Argyll meet in Fife. This will be the third time this seasons that the sides have clashed and Aberdour were single goal victors on both occasions. Inverness v Oban Celtic Inverness take on Oban Celtic at the Bught Park. David Higham is still out for Inverness. The sides met pre-season for the Robert Wylie Memorial Cup which Oban Celtic won after a sudden death penalty shoot-out with David Hill getting the all-important goal. Taynuilt v Strachur Taynuilt have home advantage against Strachur. Taynuilt’s Willie Gilles is still suspended. The sides currently occupy the bottom two places in Marine Harvest South Division 1.
Orion Group Premiership Newtonmore v Inveraray Newtonmore welcome Inveraray to the Eilan. The sides met at Inveraray just three weeks ago with ‘More running out 6-2 winners and they will start as favourites in this one. The injured Jamie Robinson is nearing a return for the home side. The league leaders have a two point advantage over Kinlochshiel but the west coast side has a game in hand. Lovat v Kinlochshiel Second place Kinlochshiel head for Balgate to play Lovat. Both these sides have been the early surprise packages in the league so far this season. Kinlochshiel will be without the injured Gordie MacDonald and, as manager Johnston Gill confirmed on Cuillin FM’s Camanachd Corner last Saturday, Fraser MacVicar will also be missing for several weeks because of work commitments. However defender Calum MacLean should return after missing last week’s win over Kyles Athletic through illness. This match will feature on the Camanachd Association’s YouTube archive. Fort William v Glenurquhart Glenurquhart co-manager Drew McNeil takes his Glenurquhart side to the Black Parks to play former club Fort William. McNeil enjoyed great success with the Fort winning three consecutive Camanachd Cups before leaving the side at the end of the 2009 season. Scott Henderson joined Fort William from Ballachulish pre-season and he is proving to be a good signing. Duncan Rodger returns from suspension for the home side, who boast the meanest defence if the league after conceding only two goals so far, but Daniel Stewart is missing. Paul MacKintosh misses out for the Glen with a hand injury. Bute v Kingussie Bute and Kingussie meet on Rothesay. Kingussie talisman Ronald Ross will be missing which is a blow for the visitors. He picked up a knock in last week’s 2-1 win at Lovat but he is unavailable this week. Ross has scored five times in the two matches since his return but Kings’ boss Russell Jones is confident that his other forwards can find the back of the net. Defender Iain Borthwick is injured. Brian Liddell is still missing for Bute with an ankle injury. Kilmallie v Kyles Athletic Kilmallie go in search of their first league win of the season when Kyles Athletic come to the Canal Parks. Kilmallie have just picked up one point in eight games since losing the last three matches of last season and a win would be a tremendous boost to morale. Kyles will be licking their wounds after last week’s second half collapse against Kinlochshiel and they will be dangerous opponents despite being under-strength again. Andrew King will be available for Kyles before starting a two match suspension.
Marine Harvest North Division 1 Strathglass v Beauly Beauly have the chance to return to the top of the table when they make the short journey to Cannich to play Strathglass. Beauly came out on top by the odd goal in nine when the sides met at Cannich a fortnight ago. Innes Simpson is still likely to be missing for Beauly and Conor Ross is also unavailable.
Marine Harvest North Division 2 Aberdeen University v Newtonmore Newtonmore head for Aberdeen for the second successive Saturday to play Aberdeen University. ‘More scored seven goals last week and the league leaders will start as favourites. David Campbell will be available again for ‘More following suspension. Glengarry v Skye Camanachd There should be a close match at Craigard where third place Glengarry host second place Skye Camanachd. Michael Brady and Daniel MacLennan are still suspended for the home side. The Islanders will be without Ally “Spod” MacLeod and Stewart Grant who both have hand injuries and Paul MacKinnon is unavailable. Kingussie v Lochaber Kingussie and Lochaber meet at the Dell. Lochaber were unable to raise a team for their trip to Aberdour last week so they forfeited the Sutherland Cup tie. Glenurquhart v Fort William The Glenurquhart and Fort William second teams clash at Blairbeg. Fort defender Cameron Grant misses out as he starts a two match ban. Lovat v Kinlochshiel The match between Kinlochshiel and Lovat was switched to Balgate following concerns about ‘Shiel’s Kirkton pitch. However Balgate can only take one game so the game reverts back to Kirkton.
Marine Harvest South Division 2 Glasgow Mid Argyll v Ballachulish Glasgow Mid Argyll have just one win in five games this season and they welcome Ballachulish to Yoker. The home side will have to do without the suspended Martin Hall. Lochside Rovers v Aberdour Lochside Rovers will be favourites to maintain their 100% league record against bottom side Aberdour in Oban. Kyles Athletic v Ardnamurchan Second place Kyles Athletic have home advantage against Ardnamurchan. JD MacMaster should return for the visitors after putting in an excellent performance for Alba in Iomain Cholmcille a Coig last weekend. Inveraray v Col Glen Inveraray and Col Glen meet at the Winterton. Both sides suffered Sutherland Cup defeats to North opposition last weekend. Col Glen have a two point advantage over their opponents in the league with each playing five games. Tayforth v Bute Tayforth are at home to Bute. The Islanders had a good 2-1 win over Ballachulish last weekend to go fifth in a very congested mid-table.
Marine Harvest North Division 3 Beauly v Strathglass League leaders Beauly take on Strathglass at Braeview Park. Raymond Fraser is banned for the visitors. Throw up is at 1pm. Strathspey Camanachd v Lewis Camanachd Shinty’s newest clubs meet at Freuchie Park as Strathspey Camanachd welcome Lewis Camanachd. The visitors will be hampered by the absence of the influential Innes Lamont and Dougie Shaw. Throw up is at 1pm and this match will be filmed for the Camanachd Association’s video gallery. Caberfeidh v Lochbroom Caberfeidh and Lochbroom clash at Castle Leod. Seumus Nairn should return for Lochbroom after missing out last week to represent Alba in Iomain Cholmcille a Coig. James Stewart also returns for the visitors after suspension. Boleskine v Kilmallie There will be an interesting clash at Farr when second place Boleskine host third place Kilmallie. The sides are only separated by a point in the league. Lochcarron v Inverness Lochcarron and Inverness meet at Battery Park. Lochcarron have no first team match so they should be able to field a strong side. |